The 2021–22 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football games scheduled to complete the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The main games concluded with the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 10, 2022, while the all-star portion of the schedule concluded February 19, 2022.
Schedule The schedule for the 2021–22 bowl games is below. All times are EST (UTC−5). Note that Division II bowls and Division III bowls are not included here. The bowl schedule was released on May 27, 2021.
College Football Playoff and National Championship Game The College Football Playoff system is used to determine a national championship of Division I FBS college football. A 13-member committee of experts ranked the top 25 teams in the nation after each of the last seven weeks of the regular season. The top four teams in the final ranking were then seeded in a single-elimination semifinal round, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game.
The semifinal games for the 2021 season were the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Orange Bowl. Both were played December 31, 2021, as part of a yearly rotation of three pairs of two bowls, commonly referred to as the New Year's Six bowl games. The winners advanced to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 10, 2022.
Each of the games in the following table was televised by ESPN. DateTime (EST)GameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResultsDec. 307:00 p.m.Peach BowlMercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaNo. 10 Michigan State Spartans (10–2)No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers (11–2)Big TenACC Michigan State 31Pittsburgh 213:30 p.m.Cotton Bowl Classic(Playoff Semifinal Game)AT&T StadiumArlington, TexasNo. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12–1)No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13–0)SECAmerican Alabama 27Cincinnati 67:30 p.m.Orange Bowl(Playoff Semifinal Game)Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FloridaNo. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (12–1)No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (12–1)SECBig TenGeorgia 34Michigan 11Jan. 11:00 p.m.Fiesta BowlState Farm StadiumGlendale, ArizonaNo. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11–2)No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–1)Big 12IndependentOklahoma State 37Notre Dame 355:00 p.m.Rose BowlRose BowlPasadena, CaliforniaNo. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (10–2)No. 11 Utah Utes (10–3)Big TenPac-12Ohio State 48Utah 459:00 p.m.Sugar BowlCaesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaNo. 7 Baylor Bears (11–2)No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels (10–2)Big 12SECBaylor 21Ole Miss 7Jan. 108:00 p.m.College Football Playoff National Championship(Cotton Bowl Winner vs. Orange Bowl Winner)Lucas Oil StadiumIndianapolis, Indiana No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (13–1)No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13–1)SECGeorgia 33Alabama 18
Non CFP bowl games Bowl changes Two bowls, which had originally planned to debut during the 2020–21 bowl season but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planned to make their debuts during the 2021–22 bowl season; the Fenway Bowl (Boston, Massachusetts) and the LA Bowl (Inglewood, California). The LA Bowl made its debut, while the Fenway Bowl was again canceled due to COVID-19 issues.
The Montgomery Bowl, played in December 2020 as a one-off substitute for the Fenway Bowl, did not return. The San Francisco Bowl (formerly the Redbox Bowl) was canceled for a second straight season when organizers could not come to terms with all parties involved with the game.
On December 2, 2021, the NCAA approved a 42nd bowl game, later named the Frisco Football Classic, in order to accommodate all 84 bowl-eligible teams.
On December 22, Texas A&M withdrew from the Gator Bowl, citing a breakout of positive COVID-19 cases and season-ending injuries limiting them to too few players. Rutgers was subsequently announced as a replacement team.
On December 23, Hawaii withdrew from the Hawaii Bowl, similarly citing season-ending injuries, transfers, and COVID-19 cases within the program, and the game was ultimately cancelled.
On December 26, Boston College withdrew from the Military Bowl and Virginia withdrew from the Fenway Bowl due to COVID-19 cases; both games were canceled.
On December 26, the Miami (FL) Hurricanes announced that they would not be able to play in the Sun Bowl due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would try to secure a replacement team to face the Washington State Cougars.
On December 27, the Boise State Broncos withdrew from the Arizona Bowl due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team. Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled, and the bowl's remaining team, the Central Michigan Chippewas, was named as the replacement team for the Sun Bowl.
On December 28, the Holiday Bowl was called off hours before game time, due to COVID-19 issues within the UCLA Bruins program, and officially canceled the next morning, after organizers could not secure a replacement team to face the NC State Wolfpack.
Bowl schedule / results In the below table, affiliations for confirmed teams reflect their actual conferences, and rankings are per the final CFP rankings that were released on December 5.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionTeamsAffiliationsResults12:00 p.m.Bahamas BowlThomas Robinson StadiumNassau, BahamasESPNMiddle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6–6)Toledo Rockets (7–5)C–USAMACMiddle Tennessee 31Toledo 246:00 p.m.Cure BowlExploria StadiumOrlando, FloridaESPN2Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10–2)Northern Illinois Huskies (9–4)Sun BeltMACCoastal Carolina 47Northern Illinois 41Dec. 1811:00 a.m.Boca Raton BowlFAU StadiumBoca Raton, FloridaESPNWestern Kentucky Hilltoppers (8–5)Appalachian State Mountaineers (10–3)C–USASun BeltWestern Kentucky 59Appalachian State 382:15 p.m.New Mexico BowlUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, New MexicoFresno State Bulldogs (9–3)UTEP Miners (7–5)MWCC–USAFresno State 31UTEP 24 3:30 p.m.Independence BowlIndependence StadiumShreveport, LouisianaABCUAB Blazers (8–4)No. 13 BYU Cougars (10–2)C–USAIndependentUAB 31 BYU 285:45 p.m.LendingTree BowlHancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AlabamaESPNLiberty Flames (7–5)Eastern Michigan Eagles (7–5)IndependentMACLiberty 56 Eastern Michigan 207:30 p.m.LA BowlSoFi StadiumInglewood, CaliforniaABCUtah State Aggies (10–3)Oregon State Beavers (7–5)MWCPac-12Utah State 24 Oregon State 139:15 p.m.New Orleans BowlCaesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaESPNNo. 23 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (12–1)Marshall Thundering Herd (7–5)Sun BeltC–USALouisiana 36 Marshall 21Dec. 202:30 p.m.Myrtle Beach BowlBrooks StadiumConway, South CarolinaTulsa Golden Hurricane (6–6)Old Dominion Monarchs (6–6)AmericanC–USATulsa 30 Old Dominion 17Dec. 213:30 p.m.Famous Idaho Potato BowlAlbertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoWyoming Cowboys (6–6)Kent State Golden Flashes (7–6)MWCMACWyoming 52Kent State 387:30 p.m.Frisco BowlToyota StadiumFrisco, TexasNo. 24 San Diego State Aztecs (11–2)UTSA Roadrunners (12–1)MWCC–USASan Diego State 38UTSA 24Dec. 228:00 p.m.Armed Forces BowlAmon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TexasArmy Black Knights (8–4)Missouri Tigers (6–6)IndependentSECArmy 24Missouri 22Dec. 233:30 p.m.Frisco Football ClassicToyota StadiumFrisco, TexasMiami (OH) RedHawks (6–6)North Texas Mean Green (6–6)MACC–USAMiami (OH) 27North Texas 147:00 p.m.Gasparilla BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaUCF Knights (8–4)Florida Gators (6–6)AmericanSECUCF 29Florida 17Dec. 248:00 p.m.Hawaii BowlClarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HawaiiMemphis Tigers (6–6)Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (6–7)AmericanMWCCanceledDec. 252:30 p.m.Camellia BowlCramton BowlMontgomery, AlabamaGeorgia State Panthers (7–5)Ball State Cardinals (6–6)Sun BeltMACGeorgia State 51Ball State 20Dec. 2711:00 a.m.Quick Lane BowlFord FieldDetroit, MichiganWestern Michigan Broncos (7–5)Nevada Wolf Pack (8–4)MACMWCWestern Michigan 52Nevada 242:30 p.m.Military BowlNavy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MarylandBoston College Eagles (6–6)East Carolina Pirates (7–5)ACCAmericanCanceledDec. 2812:00 p.m.Birmingham BowlProtective Stadium Birmingham, AlabamaNo. 20 Houston Cougars (11–2)Auburn Tigers (6–6)AmericanSECHouston 17Auburn 133:15 p.m.First Responder BowlGerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TexasAir Force Falcons (9–3)Louisville Cardinals (6–6)MWCACCAir Force 31Louisville 286:45 p.m.Liberty BowlLiberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TennesseeTexas Tech Red Raiders (6–6)Mississippi State Bulldogs (7–5)Big 12SEC Texas Tech 34Mississippi State 78:00 p.m.Holiday BowlPetco ParkSan Diego, CaliforniaFoxUCLA Bruins (8–4)No. 18 NC State Wolfpack (9–3)Pac-12ACCCanceled10:15 p.m.Guaranteed Rate BowlChase FieldPhoenix, ArizonaESPNMinnesota Golden Gophers (8–4)West Virginia Mountaineers (6–6)Big TenBig 12Minnesota 18West Virginia 6Dec. 2911:00 a.m.Fenway BowlFenway ParkBoston, MassachusettsSMU Mustangs (8–4)Virginia Cavaliers (6–6)AmericanACC Canceled2:15 p.m.Pinstripe BowlYankee StadiumThe Bronx, New YorkMaryland Terrapins (6–6)Virginia Tech Hokies (6–6)Big TenACCMaryland 54Virginia Tech 105:45 p.m.Cheez-It BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaNo. 19 Clemson Tigers (9–3)Iowa State Cyclones (7–5)ACCBig 12Clemson 20Iowa State 139:15 p.m.Alamo BowlAlamodomeSan Antonio, TexasNo. 16 Oklahoma Sooners (10–2)No. 14 Oregon Ducks (10–3)Big 12Pac-12Oklahoma 47Oregon 32Dec. 3011:30 a.m.Duke's Mayo BowlBank of America StadiumCharlotte, North CarolinaSouth Carolina Gamecocks (6–6)North Carolina Tar Heels (6–6)SECACCSouth Carolina 38North Carolina 213:00 p.m.Music City BowlNissan StadiumNashville, TennesseePurdue Boilermakers (8–4)Tennessee Volunteers (7–5)Big TenSEC Purdue 48Tennessee 4510:30 p.m.Las Vegas BowlAllegiant StadiumParadise, NevadaWisconsin Badgers (8–4)Arizona State Sun Devils (8–4)Big TenPac-12Wisconsin 20Arizona State 13Dec. 3111:00 a.m.Gator BowlTIAA Bank FieldJacksonville, FloridaNo. 17 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10–3)Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5−7)ACCBig TenWake Forest 38Rutgers 1012:00 p.m.Sun BowlSun BowlEl Paso, TexasCBSCentral Michigan Chippewas (8–4)Washington State Cougars (7–5)MACPac-12Central Michigan 24 Washington State 212:00 p.m.Arizona BowlArizona StadiumTucson, ArizonaBarstoolSportsBoise State Broncos (7–5)Central Michigan Chippewas (8–4)MWCMACCanceledJan. 112:00 p.m.Outback BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaESPN2No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks (8–4)Penn State Nittany Lions (7–5)SECBig TenArkansas 24 Penn State 101:00 p.m.Citrus BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaABCNo. 22 Kentucky Wildcats (9–3)No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes (10–3)SECBig TenKentucky 20 Iowa 17Jan. 49:00 p.m.Texas BowlNRG StadiumHouston, TexasESPNKansas State Wildcats (7–5)LSU Tigers (6–6)Big 12SEC Kansas State 42LSU 20
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FCS bowl game The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) has one bowl game. The FCS also has a postseason bracket tournament that culminates in the 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionParticipantsAffiliationsResultsReferencesDec. 1812:00 p.m.Celebration BowlMercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaABCSouth Carolina State Bulldogs (6–5)Jackson State Tigers (11–1)MEACSWACSouth Carolina State 31Jackson State 10
All-star games Each of these games features college seniors, or players whose college football eligibility is ending, who are individually invited by game organizers. These games are scheduled to follow the team-competitive bowls, to allow players selected from bowl teams to participate. The all-star games may include some players from non-FBS programs.
A new all-star game, the HBCU Legacy Bowl, was announced in March 2021, and concluded the overall college football post-season on February 19, 2022.